A Day in the Fishing Islands

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by Kim Gregor

How do you take the magic and put it into words? It is in the adventure, the fresh air, the weather, the scenery, great companions, interesting conversation, and in the conquering of the passage. Oh what a day out in the kayak can do for your soul!
After a way too long winter, I was longing for a day on the water and away from hectic life in the city. I jumped at the opportunity when I saw Sandy Richardson’s post for a day trip in the Fishing Islands. This area is a group of about 80-90 islands located in Lake Huron, approximately 3 kilometres offshore from Oliphant, on the Bruce Peninsula. The islands are a great place to paddle as they offer some protection against the sometimes harsh conditions on Lake Huron, and also make for an interesting landscape. We were to meet at 9:30 on Sat morning June 19 at the public beach in Howdenvale. The public beach is a nice place to put in as it is easy to find, there is adequate and free parking very close to the beach, it is sandy and easy on the boats, and there are rental cottages right there for anyone who is making a long drive and prefers to stay overnight in comfort. There were to be eight of us in total. A nice size group.
The weather was sunny and the water felt much warmer than Lake Ontario had the week before. We paddled south from Howdenvale beach toward Burke Island. There was some wind and waves but it was all quite manageable. The waters there are clear and it’s easy to look down and see the ever changing landscape below. The depth can change dramatically in a very short distance and there are also lots of shoals and rocks around the islands which require one to keep vigilant. Through the years there have been several ship wrecks in the area and today we were hoping to find the wreck of the Sarah, on the east side of Burke Island.
Sandy led us to the general area and we started to look. The ripple waves on the water made it a little difficult to see, but it didn’t take too long before we started seeing the out-line below of something unusual. We had found her!
After hovering over the spot for a while, taking in as much of the view as we could, we paddled on toward Main Station Island where we stopped for lunch. This island was once the site of a fish plant in the earlier part of the 1800’s. In those days the islands were noted for their vast schools of fish and there was a lucrative fishing industry but the area has since been depleted. We pulled up on shore and found a nice flat area by the water to sit and have lunch. I was delighted by the pretty little flower arrangements that grow everywhere out of the cracks in the rocks. They are all quite unique and beautiful.
After lunch, we started heading back north toward Howdenvale beach. We passed by several small islands and came across one with a large colony of gulls. There was a lot of excitement among the gulls and they made a lot of noise. There was a cottage on the island as well, not all that far from the gulls, but it was upwind and the noise and the smell was not as noticeable there. The owner was standing on his dock and he spoke with us for a while. When asked about the gulls, he said they had been there long before the cottage. He totally respected their right to be there and I loved his attitude.
We headed back toward Howdenvale without incident. A fellow paddler let me try his traditional paddle for a while. First time for me with a traditional paddle and now it’s on my list of things to pursue in the future! We arrived safely back at the beach around 4:30 pm. Many thanks to Sandy Richardson for organizing a great trip!
The fresh air, the lush green of the island where we had lunch and the pretty little flower arrangements that grow amongst the rocks, the joy of the adventure and sharing the day with a great group of enjoyable and like-minded people was pure rejuvenation.
Heading home a bit later that day, kayak on the roof, I slowed down to stop at the lights. A car to my left honked as he pulled up beside me. He pointed to the kayak and flashed a big thumbs up. It was a total reflection of the day and it couldn’t be summed up much better than that!

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GLSKA Waiver

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (hereinafter the "Release Agreement") BY ACCEPTING THIS DOCUMENT YOU WILL WAIVE OR GIVE UP CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR NEGLIGENCE OR BREACH OF CONTRACT OR TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

DEFINITION

In this Release Agreement, the term Sea Kayaking Activities shall include but is not limited to: all activities, events or services provided, arranged, organized, conducted, sponsored or authorized by the Releasees and shall including moving water, still water, lake and ocean kayaking; loan or rental of kayaks (hereinafter "the boats") and other equipment; orientational and instructional courses, seminars and sessions; all travel, transportation, and accommodation; food, beverage including water supply, use of equipment, and multi-day camping or overnight stays in the outdoors.

In this Release Agreement, the term "Negligence" includes the failure by the Releasees to use such care as a reasonably prudent and careful guide, instructor, trip organizer or sea kayaking operator would use under similar circumstances, or breach of any other duty of care imposed by law.

ASSUMPTION OF RISKS

Participation in Sea Kayaking Activities involves various risks, dangers and hazards including the risk of serious injury, paralysis or death. Sea Kayaking Activities often take place in remote wilderness locations, where assistance, medical and first aid services and evacuation may not be readily available, and communication may be difficult or not possible. The risks, dangers and hazards that may be encountered include, but are not limited to: accidents which occur during transportation or travel to and from the departure point; slips and falls while getting into or out of the boats; overturning of the boats; loss of balance; impact or collision with objects; cold water immersion; repetitive strain injuries; dislocated shoulders; hypothermia; drowning; changing and inclement weather conditions including storms, high wind, high waves, and lightning; encounters with domestic or wild animals; infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact; negligence on the part of other participants; and NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART THE RELEASEES. I UNDERSTAND THAT NEGLIGENCE INCLUDES FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES TO TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO SAFEGUARD OR PROTECT ME FROM OR WARN ME OF THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS OF PARTICIPATING IN SEA KAYAKING ACTIVITIES.

Please refer to the GLSKA Risk Management Strategy section of their website for further information regarding the risks, dangers and hazards that may be encountered during Sea Kayaking Activities.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (hereinafter the "Release Agreement") BY ACCEPTING THIS DOCUMENT YOU WILL WAIVE OR GIVE UP CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR NEGLIGENCE OR BREACH OF CONTRACT OR TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

I AM AWARE OF THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATING IN SEA KAYAKING ACTIVITIES AND I FREELY ACCEPT AND FULLY ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR LOSS RESULTING THEREFROM.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

In consideration of the Releasees allowing me to participate in Sea Kayaking Activities as defined in this Release Agreement, I hereby agree as follows:

  1. TO WAIVE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS that I have or may in the future have against the Releasees and TO RELEASE THE RELEASEES from any and all liability for any loss, damage, expenseor injury including death that I may suffer, or that my next of kin may suffer as a result of my participation in Sea Kayaking Activities, DUE TO ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF CONTRACT, OR BREACH OF ANY STATUTORY OR OTHER DUTY OF CARE ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES. I UNDERSTAND THAT NEGLIGENCE INCLUDES FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES TO TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO SAFEGUARD OR PROTECT ME FROM OR WARN ME OF THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS OF PARTICIPATING IN SEA KAYAKING ACTIVITIES REFERRED TO ABOVE;
  1. TO HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFY THE RELEASEES from any and all liability for any property damage or personal injury to any third party resulting from my participation in Sea Kayaking Activities;
  2. This Release Agreement shall be effective and binding upon my heirs, next of kin, executors, administrators, assigns and representatives, in the event of my death or incapacity;
  3. This Release Agreement and any rights, duties and obligations as between the parties to this Release Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted solely in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and no other jurisdiction; and
  4. Any litigation involving the parties to this Release Agreement shall be brought solely within the Province of Ontario and shall be within the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario.

In entering into this Release Agreement I am not relying on any oral or written representations or statements made by the Releasees with respect to the safety of Sea Kayaking Activities, other than what is set forth in this Release Agreement.

I CONFIRM THAT I HAVE READ THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT, AND I AM AWARE THAT BY ACCEPTING THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT I AM WAIVING CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS WHICH I OR MY HEIRS, NEXT OF KIN, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, ASSIGNS AND REPRESENTATIVES MAY HAVE AGAINST THE RELEASEES.